The whole city was on fire. People were screaming. Bleeding. Dying. This was the end. There was no escape.

"Mama?"

Elia startled when she heard her daughter's voice and forced a smile on her face. She needed to be strong, for her children.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

Rhaenys looked at Elia, holding her favorite doll tightly against her chest. She had been sleeping next to her brother in Elia's bed. Quickly Elia glanced at her son who was thankfully still asleep.

"What is going to happen?" Rhaenys asked with a shaky voice.

The truth was that Elia didn't know, but she couldn't show her own fear to her daughter. All she knew for sure was that they were trapped in the royal chambers and likely they would be captured soon. She didn't think that the invaders would kill them, not if they didn't want to make her family their enemies. Her husband was dead, but she was still the Princess of Dorne. Gently she lifted her daughter up and wrapped her arms around her small body.

"I'm not sure, sweetheart," she said quietly. "But I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you or Aegon, I promise."

She feared for her son, who hadn't even celebrated his second nameday yet. She feared that the new king, whoever that would be, would see her son as a threat. There had to be a way to assure him otherwise. She needed to fight harder than ever before to protect her children. If that meant kneeling in front of the new king and kissing his boots, she would do it without hesitation. Her own pride meant nothing to her anymore. She would do whatever she had to do to keep her children safe. A sudden loud thump almost made her heart stop. It scared Rhaenys and woke Aegon up. Someone was trying to break the doors. Elia had done her best to barricade them, but she knew that it wouldn't keep the enemy out for long.

"Mama," Rhaenys sobbed.

Quickly Elia placed her on the floor and knelt in front of her.

"Listen to me, sweetheart," she said firmly and cupped her daughter's face. "I need you to take your brother and crawl under the bed. Do you understand? I need you to do that for mama."

Rhaenys let out a sob and nodded.

"Yes, mama."

"Good girl," Elia said and kissed her daughter's forehead. "Mama loves you so much."

"I love you too, mama."

Elia forced herself to stand up and pick her crying son up.

"It's alright, my darling," Elia murmured and kissed Aegon's cheek. "It's alright."

Carefully she handed Aegon to Rhaenys who crawled quickly under the bed. The doors flew open only a second later and a huge man marched into the chamber. Elia's eyes widened when she saw the man. He looked like a giant; his sword and armor were covered in blood. Elia had never seen anything so terrifying in her life.

"I am Princess Elia of Dorne," she said, managing to stop her voice from shaking. "I…"

She didn't have time to finish her sentence when the man suddenly raised his fist and hit her so hard that she fell on her back, almost losing consciousness. Her vision was blurry and she tasted the blood in her mouth, but all she thought about were her children.

"Wait your turn, whore," the man grunted.

"No!" Elia cried out when she heard Rhaenys screaming.

The man had lifted the bed and pushed it aside. Elia got up and attacked the man with all the fury of a mother protecting her children. The man threw her against the wall effortlessly like she would have been a ragdoll.

"I said wait for your turn," he snarled. "I'll gut your brats first."

"No!"

Elia's arm was broken, but she didn't feel the pain. She ran to her children, ready to protect them until her last breath. The man laughed and raised his sword.

"Stop!" a male voice demanded.

The man turned, ready to attack the intruder, but he didn't. Elia recognized the young man standing in the doorway. Jaime Lannister.

"Ser Gregor, I order you to stop," he said firmly and marched over to Elia and her children.

"Stay out of this," the giant snarled. "I'm following your father's orders."

"Not anymore," Ser Jaime replied and unsheathed his sword. "The Princess and her children are under my protection. If you want to kill them, you'll have to kill me first."

"Out of my way!" the giant demanded.

"No. Go ahead, try to get past me. And if you'll succeed, you can explain to my father why you murdered his heir."

The giant cursed furiously.

"Out of my way, boy!"

"That's Lord Lannister," Ser Jaime replied coolly. "I am the firstborn son of your master, so go ahead, attack me."

The giant growled, but didn't raise his sword.

"You will regret this, boy," he snarled.

"Perhaps," Ser Jaime replied calmly. "But not right now. Get out."

The giant growled and stormed out. Elia was shaking as she stood in front of her crying children. Blood was pouring out of her nose and she couldn't move her left arm. It took a moment before Ser Jaime turned to face her.

"Princess," he murmured and bowed. "I…"

"Why did you help us?" she asked quietly when he didn't continue.

The young man didn't look at her.

"Because it was the right thing to do. You and your children are innocent."

Elia wasn't sure if she believed him, but that didn't matter right now.

"Thank you," she said sincerely.

He still didn't look at her, but he nodded.

"You are not safe yet I'm afraid. I know I'm asking a lot, but I need you to trust me, Princess. I will help you and your children, I give you my word."

Elia hesitated, but she knew that she didn't have a choice.

"I believe you, Ser Jaime. What do you need me to do?"